Railroad-switch protector



April 28, 1931. H B DALE I 1,802,406

RAILROAD SWITCH IIROTE'CTOR Filed Jan. 1' 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I n van for '/7/Q Ja/e A itomey April 28, 1931. DALE 1,802,406

RAILROAD SWI TCH PROTECTOR v Filed Jan. 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A Y F A6, kfii- Inventor flarfj O JQ/a V Byg m I A iiorney Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STATES HARRY B. DALE, or s'r. LoUIs-cmiN'rYLMIsso-tmr RAILROAD-SWITCH- PROTECTOR Application filed. January 17, 1930; SrialNo. 421,468?

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in railroad switches, and

tion to overcome this strain by providing non-absorbing means in the connection, to take care of any superfluous movement of the switch point.

During the following specification, varlous important objects and advantages of the invention will readily become apparent to the reader. 7

In the drawings z Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a railroad switch, and showing the improvements interposed between the switch point and the usual switch stand.

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the invention.

Fig. 3 represents a cross sectional view of the nozzle connection, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. i is a rod sections. 7 v

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the spring guides.

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary side elevational view disclosing the manner in which the spring is connected to one of the guides.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in Fig. 1, that the numeral 5'5 designates the rails of the main track, whereas the numeral 4 66 represents the rails of the branch tracks.

The switch point is denoted by numeral 7,

and connects to the usual bridle bar 8 in a conventional manner. V

The base frame 9 extends outwardly from the trackway to support the switch stand 10,

perspective view of one of the which is equipped with the usual signal 11 and actuatin means 12.

In place of the ordinary connecting rack, the present invention proposes a pair of rack sections 1313, each of which is provided with a fork 14: at one end, and threads 15 extending inwardly from its opposite endfor the major portion thereof.

The fork 14 of one of the sections 13 connects to the bridle bar 8, while the fork 14 of the complemental section 13 connects to the operating means of the switch stand.

Each section 13 has an internally threaded shell 16 sea-table thereon, and this internally m threaded shell is adapted to receive the ex- 5 ternally threaded sleeve 17 rojecting beyond one side of the circumfierentially extending flange 18 on the cylindrical guide 19.

Each of the cylindrical guides 19 adjacent the circumferential flange 18 is provided with a circumferentially extending groove 20 (see Fig. 5) into which one end convolution of the elongated expansible coiled spring 21 engages. The extremity of the spring and the guide 19 are preferably welded or soldered to the guide to prevent displacement thereof.

The threaded portion of the section 13 projects through the cylindrical guide 19, and in a manner as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

It can thus be seen that by engaging a wrench with the poly onal shaped nut portion 22, of either one of the shells 16, the shell may be fed on the threaded portion 15 of the corresponding rod section 13, so as to increase or decrease the normal extent of the connection.

When the connection is subjected to any strain, imposed by motion of the switch point, this strain will be taken up by the spring 90, 21, so that no damage can be done to the switch stand, or the interposed rods.

It is also evidentthat the parts disclosed, can be modified in shape and perform the same service without in any manner departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is j A connection of the character described comprising-a pair of guide bodies, a circumferential flange on each of the said bodies, one end portion of each guide body being provided with threads, an internally threaded shell for engagement with the threaded portion of each guide body, a nut on each of the said shells, an elongated threaded rod disposed through each nut, and an elongated expansible spring, each end of the spring being adapted to envelop a portion of one of the said guide bodies, said spring and its extremities being secured to the said guide bodies.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY B. DALE. 

